quick poll

Ghent or Gent!

It's great, loads to see, brilliant sights, easy connections to the rest of Flanders. Bruges is nice too, worth a day-trip, definitely.

Agree.
Ghent is also more centrally located.

We spent 4 nights in Bruges with a daytrip to Ghent last June. We were glad we chose Bruges over Ghent as our homebase. Something about the quaintness of Bruges won us over more than Ghent. We enjoyed our day trip to Ghent but were more satisfied with Bruges.

Ghent had a more lively night life and not the the tourist bus day trip groups walking in line down street gawking

Just there last fall.
We spent 4 nights in Bruges and like it after the busses left. Lots to see and do, however Ghent is a very easy train ride to Bruges ,
We only spent one day in Ghent and could have stayed longer. It is much more urban. RS walking tour of Ghent is good.

Bruges all the way!
Here's a taste:
https://youtu.be/s-BYMPMhjpU

On some days I prefer Ghent/Gent - on others Brugge/Bruges.

As a base, Ghent. It has better rail connections and more to do, right there. Bruges would work, especially if you are interested in day trips to Ypres or Ostend. They're both big tourist cities, but Bruges is magical if you stay there after the buses have left for the day. More tourists stay overnight in Ghent.

So, neither is a bad choice. I think Ghent is a little better.

Both are good choices. Ghent might be better for taking day trips.

I have not been to either, but Ypres should be at the top of your list for day trips if you haven't been to a WWI battlefield.

Do you have a favorite hotel/B&B in Bruges? I've contacted some in RS' book and they are mostly full.

Don't have a hotel/B&B recommendations for Bruges but can highly recommend the Hotel Carlton in Ghent.
The hotel is about a quarter mile from the train station and very convenient to to bus lines in Ghent. The proprietors are excellent guides for the area. The hotel also has a top notch breakfast.

We stayed at the Patritius Hotel in Bruges a couple of years ago and loved the location as well as the comfort of the hotel. It was a delightful family run hotel. We also enjoyed being in Bruges after the tour buses left.